What Happens in Texas

The morning after her sisters Vegas bachelorette party, Jen Baxter wakes up with a splitting headache, wearing a gown she doesnt recognizeand in the arms of a man she most definitely does: best man Rick Steele! Making matters worse are the matching wedding bands theyre sporting

Its not long before Jen and Rickcoworkers whove been verbally sparring for monthsremember the dare that led them to I do. And thanks to the media circus surrounding beauty queen Belles upcoming marriage to a Dallas NFL star, the news is already out. Fearing their boss, Texas tycoon Grady McCabe, will not look highly on two of his employees making light of such a serious commitment, Jen and Rick decide to make the marriage look realin name only

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Chapter Eight

Rick stared at Jen, hardly able to believe what he had just heard. "I dont love you?" he echoed in stunned disbelief.

"Shhh!" Jen pressed her finger to his lips, as aware as Rick that others might very well be listening outside the door. "You dont have to speak so loudly!" she chided.

"Apparently, I do," Rick stated, more determined than ever to make her understand. "Because I do love you, Jen, with all my heart!"

Jens face lit up with a glow that came from deep within. She looked deep into his eyes. "You mean that," she noted softly, happily.

Rick gathered her in his arms for a long, soulful kiss. "I do."

A contented silence fell. Rick knew what they would have done next, had they been alone. But they were in a church, with a chapel still full of everyone who had shown up on the brides side.

The grooms guests had, at his behest, already departed.

"I understand if you want to turn Belle down on her offer to take her place, and go back to square one, do the whole courtship and proposal thing from the very beginning, and plan your very own wedding," Rick said.

Jen held up a staying hand. "Actually, now that you mention it, the answer to that is no. Ive always been practical and to tell you the truth, planning a wedding like this one is nothing but one giant headache, from my point of view. Selecting the flowers and the caterers and the invitations and the band, it just takes forever, and I dont want to waste that time. Not when I could already be still married"

"Really married this time," Rick clarified.

Jen smiled. "to you."

Rick gathered her slender body closer yet. "So?"

Jen took a deep, enervating breath. "Im willing if you are."

No question there. "I am."

It took another fortyfive minutes to get the dresses changed, and Ricks very surprised but willing parents to the chapel, as well. There was also the little matter of talking to the minister and agreeing to do their prenuptial counseling sessions after the fact.

But once that was all accomplished, with Ricks father standing in as best man, the wedding march sounded, and Jen glided down the aisle on her fathers arm, the way she had always secretly wanted.

Rick was standing at the altar, all the love she had ever wanted in his eyes. She approached him, all the love she had ever wanted in her heart.

"We are gathered here today to witness the union of Rick Steele and Jen Baxter," the minister began. "Although the two of them are already married in the eyes of the law, theyve also asked to be married in the church."

And thus, the ceremony that would tie them to each other for the rest of their lives began.

"Have I told you what a beautiful bride you make?" Rick murmured in Jens ear, as they took the floor for the bride and grooms first dance together as husband and wife.

Jen flirted back, "In my borrowed dress."

Rick kissed the top of her head. "In any dress."

Jen exhaled in contentment and snuggled closer in Ricks warm embrace as they swayed to the beat of "What a Wonderful World."

Ricks grip tightened possessively and Jen cast a look at her sister, who was gamely cheering them on. "I just wish things had turned out better for Belle," Jen murmured.

"They will," Rick assured Jen.

And, as it turned out, they did

One year later

"Hurry up!" Jen called from the top of the stairs.

Belle opened the door to her childhood bedroom and stepped out. She was dressed in a breathtakingly simple Vera Wang wedding dress. A real diamond tiara was threaded through her exquisitely upswept hair.

Jen caught her breath. As always, her sisters beauty was astounding. Happiness radiated from Belle. "You are without a doubt the most stunning bride I have ever seen," Jen told Belle.

Belle clutched the bouquet she would carry in the formal gardens, where she was to be married. This time, Jen amended silently to herself, to a man who loved Belle as much as she deserved to be loved, and whom Belle loved equally in return.

"You mean that, dont you?" Belle smiled.

Glad the last twelve months had reinstated the closeness the two had felt in their youth, Jen nodded. "I do, but if we dont hur" Jen paused, put her hand to her midriff and caught her breath.

"What?" Panicked, Belle came closer. "Nothings wrong, is it?"

Tears gathered in Jens eyes. She took her sisters hand and put it on her waist. "Only very right."

Recognition lit Belles face. "Is this ?"

"The first time." Jen could barely contain her excitement. "Yes."

Belle went to the stairwell. "Rick! Get up here now!" she yelled.

Jen protested. "Well be late." And there was no guarantee it would happen again!

Belle took Ricks hand and fit it into Jens. "Shell explain," Belle promised with a wink. To Jen, she added, "I was going to say, Dont take too long! But what the hecktake all the time you need." Belle winked. "The important moments in life only come once. Right?" Belle kissed Jens temple and, being very careful of the fabric of her dress, headed down the stairs.

"What was that all about?" Rick demanded, perplexed.

Jen felt it again. "This." She took Ricks hand and put it across her softly rounded belly. And there it was again, as if on cue, the tiniest kick, followed by another.

Ricks gaze widened. "Is that ?"

Jen nodded, a joy unlike any she had ever felt coming over her. "Our baby. It is."

"Wow," Rick said, waiting once again.

The baby kicked once more, then fell silent.

From the curb, they heard the limo honking.

"We better get going!" Jen said.

"Not before this," Rick said. He took her in his arms and kissed her once again, thoroughly and sweetly.